1. Tampa Bay Lightning

Record

Goal Differential

Corsi For Percentage

Previous Rank

30-14-4

+29

54.3%

1

Jonathan Drouin is 19. He has 18 points in 37 career games. At All-Star weekend, he was fractions of a second away from setting the all-time record in the fastest skater competition. In Tampa Bay, he plays depth minutes and is a press box regular.

3. New York Islanders

4. Los Angeles Kings

Record

Goal Differential

Corsi For Percentage

Previous Rank

20-15-12

+3

54.5%

4

During a span of defensive dominance that stretched from 2009 to 2013 the Kings lost two of the 139 games they played in which they entered the third period with the lead, according to NyLaKy of the terrific thxbud blog.

This season, Los Angeles has lost seven times in games that they led in the third.

The NHL leader in team Corsi For percentage isn’t dropping too far down these rankings, but it’s probably not ideal that Drew Doughty is playing close to 30 minutes every second night.

5. Anaheim Ducks

6. St. Louis Blues

Record

Goal Differential

Corsi For Percentage

Previous Rank

29-13-4

+37

51.2%

6

A good argument for Corsi not being everything: the Blues have lost roughly two percentage points by 5-on-5 shot attempt differential over last season, but they’re also taking two additional shots on goal a game.

Ken Hitchcock has loosened the reigns enough that though the Blues’ overall ability to control proceedings is a tick worse than it has been in the past, their offensive game has improved enough that they’re doing a full shot better by overall shot differential on a per game basis.

They’re a more dangerous team for it, in my estimation.

7. Detroit Red Wings

Record

Goal Differential

Corsi For Percentage

Previous Rank

27-11-9

+20

54.3%

8

The greatest trick Mike Babcock ever pulled was dominating the flow of play for nearly 50 games with a team that employs, like, three NHL caliber defensemen.

But seriously. Now tell me more about that one time he didn’t back check.

14. Boston Bruins

Record

Goal Differential

Corsi For Percentage

Previous Rank

25-16-7

+5

52.4%

14

The NHL’s All-Stars decided to sort of recreate the Tyler Seguin for Phil Kessel trade during the All-Star fantasy draft, but that deal isn’t really complete until the Bruins end up with a handful of non-star middle-six forwards.

24. Colorado Avalanche

Record

Goal Differential

Corsi For Percentage

Previous Rank

20-18-10

-12

44.1%

24

We would never suggest that a professional hockey player is taking full advantage of Colorado’s popular new laws regarding a schedule one controlled substance. We’re not responsible for what this cheeky Chihuahua is implying though:

26. Carolina Hurricanes

Record

Goal Differential

Corsi For Percentage

Previous Rank

16-25-5

-22

51.3%

26

The Hurricanes are doing decently well to control games, even if they’re still racking up losses. At least with the likes of Victor Rask and Elias Lindholm proving their mettle, the Hurricanes’ future isn’t entirely bleak.

27. Arizona Coyotes

Record

Goal Differential

Corsi For Percentage

Previous Rank

16-25-5

-51

48.8%

27

The Coyotes’ goal differential quietly dropped behind Edmonton’s in the short week prior to the All-Star break.

Hockey fans desperate for trading season to start are waiting on you, Don Maloney.

If you want to predict future results (also known as “roughly estimating team talent”, or “power rankings”), it’s very well documented that “fancy stats” (also known as basic mathematical operations with regards to shot attempts) are a much stronger measure than wins/losses.

Minnesota Wild, 2010-2011. December 11th they were 1st in the NHL, 20-7-3. Their “fancy stats” were utterly atrocious – comparable with the last place Oilers. Want to guess how their season ended? 1 point out of the draft lottery.

If you want a power rankings to mimic the standings… just look at the standings. The Kings are a far better team than their record suggests, and with 2 cup wins in the last 3 years, you shouldn’t even NEED fancy stats to realize that.

Dubious first FN entry. LA Kings at #4 is just plain silly. Sutter hockey is Corsi friendly by nature. In the playoffs when the refs stop enforcing the rules, Sutter hockey is king. Maybe that’s what your rankings imply. I’ll stick with the standings and goal differential as my guide.

I fully acknowledge that these are not the “power standings,” however, I don’t understand how a team that is only +3, is not even in a playoff spot, and has gone 2-3-5 in their last 10, could possibly be there. Ahead of the Ducks no less!